The government has sought Tk 902 crore to complete the remaining works and operationalize the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat told Parliament on Sunday.
Replying to a supplementary question from NCP lawmaker Abdul Hannan Masud (Noakhali-6), the minister said the third terminal was presented as completed by the previous government, but several essential components, including the integration of machinery and related Airport Development and Construction (ADC) works, had remained unfinished.
He said the project, originally estimated at around Tk 13,000 crore, underwent several revisions before the cost reached Tk 21,600 crore.
“When we came into office, we found that the terminal had been constructed at a cost of Tk 21,600 crore,” Millat said.
He said the government found that although the building had been inaugurated, essential integrated facilities had not been completed.
“The machines had arrived, but no integration had been done. The other ADC works related to it had also not been completed,” he said.
Describing the terminal as an asset worth about US$2.1 billion, the minister said keeping it unused would cause significant losses to the country.
“Since this is a US$2.1 billion asset, we need to operationalize it very quickly to protect the asset,” he said.
Millat said the government had calculated the additional requirement at Tk 902 crore on the basis of transparency, including outstanding payments and the amount required to make the terminal operational.
“We have calculated, accurately and transparently, that Tk 902 crore will be required to pay the outstanding dues and complete the necessary works so that the third terminal can be brought into operation,” he said.
The minister said the government had approached the Planning Ministry for approval and the Finance Ministry was taking steps to arrange the allocation.
He said the terminal would substantially increase passenger-handling capacity and revenue once operational.
“At present, we can handle around 1.2 million passengers. Once the third terminal starts operating, we will be able to handle twice that number,” Millat said.
He added that the increased revenue generated from the terminal would help the government repay the loan taken for the project.
The minister said the government had already repaid Tk 1,100 crore as an instalment of the loan after assuming office.
“The sooner we start the terminal, the sooner we can earn revenue, and the sooner we can repay the loan,” he said.
Millat warned that failure to complete and operationalize the terminal would leave the country with an expensive but underutilized facility.
“We do not want it to remain merely a building, as it happened under the previous government. It is harmful for the nation, the people and the country,” he said.